Stilt Step, Marquesas Islands

This beautiful stilt step (tapuvae) bears a solemnly seated caryatid tiki with shallow incisions, reminiscent of tattoos. Such pieces were typically crafted from ironwood and are one of the most distinctive Marquesan art forms. Marquesan men typically performed on stilts during ritual ceremonies, races, mock battles, and other competitions. Footrests such as this one were tied to stilts (which were made from light wood) two to three feet from the bottom. During these performances, most of which took place in public spaces, contestants stood on poles up to seven feet high and attempted to dislodge each other. 

Because of their portability and desirable decorative features, stilt steps were of great interest to early European and American visitors, making them one of the first Marquesan art forms to be created for sale.